"Good! Very good! Then I'll turn you into an eternal ice sculpture first!"
Dark Kyurem roared furiously again, finally making up its mind—it would not even let the Black and White Dragons remain as mere stones!
It would freeze them all into blocks of ice!
A terrifying and ferocious dragon's pressure mixed with divine might swept forward, causing N's normally calm pupils to suddenly constrict.
Damn it, so the so-called Hero of Truth was actually being hunted by Kyurem?
That damn Truth Hero—was he trying to use him and Zekrom as scapegoats?
This sadistic-masochist Hero… he just threw them under the bus!
N's usually indifferent face turned serious. Even though he had already more or less pieced together what had happened and firmly remembered that so-called Hero of Truth in his heart, the most important thing now was—
How the hell were they going to escape from this Dark Kyurem in front of them?!
N didn't know exactly how powerful Kyurem was, but just from the pressure he felt right now, this was undoubtedly the strongest opponent he had ever encountered.
Even though he was riding on the back of Zekrom, the Black Dragon, N didn't feel even a shred of security.
"N, we must retreat."
A deep, telepathic voice echoed in N's mind—it was Zekrom speaking.
N might not know, but Zekrom knew very well. It stood absolutely no chance against Kyurem.
Especially when Kyurem now appeared to be in a state of extreme fury and rage.
Damn that Hero and Reshiram. What the hell did they do to piss Kyurem off this much?
Usually, Kyurem didn't bother with either the Black or White Dragon. It preferred to sleep in its lair, a true reclusive dragon through and through.
That's also why, in the Unova region, despite Kyurem being far stronger than the Black or White Dragon, its reputation wasn't even on the same level. It didn't even compare to a single claw of theirs.
But now? Kyurem wasn't just out and about—it was in a complete rage!
"I understand. Let's fight side by side, Zekrom!"
N nodded heavily, his voice low and resolute.
Even though they said they'd retreat, there was no way they could simply turn and flee—that would only make it impossible to escape Kyurem's pursuit. They'd just become moving targets.
Once they made it out of this mess, he was definitely going to find that Hero of Truth and demand an explanation!
Even N, with his normally calm personality, was filled with frustration right now. Dammit! Why did he get dragged into such a disaster out of nowhere? And now, even making it out alive was uncertain!
So, infuriating!
-------------------------------
"Phew~ looks like we're finally safe."
Green loosened her grip from Lucas's waist, glanced behind them, and let out a sigh of relief as she patted her chest. Just thinking about how a terrifyingly violent top-tier legendary Dragon-type Pokémon had been chasing them was enough to make anyone tremble.
"Also, that guy who showed up just now—wasn't that the black dragon, Zekrom?"
Green then gazed at the endless sky. They had already fled so far they could no longer see the battle between Zekrom and Kyurem. But it didn't take a genius to guess—with even Lucas unable to do much against Kyurem, and Reshiram nearly getting taken out in a few moves… Zekrom wouldn't be faring much better.
Ah~ I hope the black dragon's okay! I'll remember your kindness forever, truly!
Green silently mourned for both Zekrom and its Hero for half a second.
"If I remember right, wasn't that the 'King' the Plasma Team members mentioned when we were at the Dragonspiral Tower?"
"He's so young… I thought he'd be much older."
Marnie also recalled the group of Plasma grunts they had caught outside the Dragonspiral Tower. Those guys had mentioned Zekrom had been awakened and taken by their king.
She never expected to run into him this soon.
But the next second, she glanced at a certain hand resting on her thigh, her eyelid twitching slightly. In the end, she just rolled her eyes and let it go.
Fine. Since they were already a couple, she wouldn't stop her sweetheart from being handsy.
Besides… it just proved how attractive she was.
"N is actually a pretty pitiful person."
Lucas shook his head, finding N difficult to judge.
Call him pitiful? Maybe. But also… maybe it was all his own doing. Call him naive? Maybe, but he was only trying to fulfill his dream.
Strictly speaking, N at this stage wasn't so different from Lance—he too pursued an ideal world.
A world where Pokémon could truly be happy.
Because from N's point of view, there were far too many Pokémon suffering under human hands—abused, mistreated, or enslaved.
But N wasn't an ordinary human—he was the offspring of a human and a Pokémon! Yes, he had some Pokémon genes in him.
That's why he could hear Pokémon's voices from a young age. That's also why he could feel their pain so clearly.
And since he was raised by Ghetsis from a young age—isolated from the world—his entire worldview was twisted from the start. Ghetsis essentially groomed him into a puppet.
But N didn't know that. Having grown up isolated, he was in truth a very kind and innocent person.
He could rage over a Pokémon's mistreatment, and cry over its pain.
Under Ghetsis' manipulation, N came to believe in his dream: to rescue all Pokémon!
And how? By separating Pokémon and humans—just like black and white—completely apart.
For that dream, power was essential. And so, with his pure and unwavering ideals, N gained Zekrom's approval.
"Pitiful?"
Marnie and Green were both stunned by this comment. They had only seen N briefly, but with his handsome features and calm demeanor—not to mention being the King of Plasma and a legendary Trainer with a black dragon—how was he pitiful?
"A man whose will, beliefs, and ideals are all manipulated like a puppet—how is that not pitiful?"
Lucas's lips curled into a faint smirk, half mocking and half pitying.
N was born with talent, high intelligence, handsome looks, and a gift for communicating with Pokémon.
In this Pokémon-centric world, he should have been like the brightest star in the sky.
He should've overshadowed everyone else in Unova.
But that was just the surface.
Since childhood, N had been deliberately isolated by Ghetsis from all human contact. Even the Pokémon around him were specifically selected by Ghetsis—Pokémon that had been abandoned, hurt, or abused by humans.
Under such conditions, N's ideology was inevitably shaped by this environment. He dreamed of creating a world where Pokémon could be truly happy.
In the original Pokémon Black and White, N was eventually defeated by the protagonist and began to understand the bond between humans and Pokémon. He then set off with Zekrom (or Reshiram) in search of his own path.
But in Black and White 2, Ghetsis, with Colress's help, captured Kyurem and stole the DNA Splicers in Opelucid City.
When N arrived with Zekrom (or Reshiram) to stop Ghetsis, the man he revered as a father called him a monster.
That single word devastated him—causing his dragon to be forcibly fused with Kyurem.
In truth, N's whole life was a tragedy.
Compared to him, Lance—who also fought for Pokémon—might have been a villain, but at least he acted on his own will.
"???"
Marnie and Green tilted their heads in confusion.
From their point of view, N was the only legendary Trainer aside from Lucas himself—how could he be a puppet?
"Forget it. It doesn't matter. Whether he can escape from Kyurem is another story. Let's find a place to rest for now."
Lucas understood their confusion, but didn't bother explaining. Maybe N now saw him as a rival—but from his perspective, N wasn't even worthy of that title.
Maybe, once N could break free from Ghetsis and have his own independent ideals, then he might barely be considered a worthy opponent.
Otherwise? He didn't even measure up to the still-growing Red or Green—let alone someone like Giovanni or Wataru.
"Ah~ it's finally over. My poor little heart~"
Green threw the thought aside and stretched, enjoying the peace. After what they'd just escaped, everything looked better—sky, earth, even the air seemed fresher.
The pressure from Black Kyurem back in that canyon had been crushing.
Now that she thought about it—she had actually ridden on a top-tier legendary Pokémon! "Reshiram's fur is so soft~"
She blinked and couldn't help petting the soft white fur. It was… delightful.
"Didn't you have ornithophobia?" Lucas chuckled.
Green had a severe fear of birds, stemming from the trauma of being kidnapped by Ho-Oh as a child. That's why she never used bird-type Pokémon.
That fear wasn't resolved until her showdown with the Masked Man in the original story.
"Reshiram's not a bird! And I'm scared of bird Pokémon, not heights!" Green retorted proudly.
She even felt that the legendary battle earlier had somehow cured her—she wasn't afraid of birds anymore!
"Oh? That flying thing over there is a Pidove."
Instantly, Green froze. She buried her head in Lucas's back like lightning and hugged him tightly.
You bastard, Lucas! You know I'm afraid of birds and you still say that!?
"Tsk tsk~ Green, you've really developed in the past year."
Feeling the softness pressed against his back, Lucas couldn't help teasing her.
He hadn't noticed earlier while they were fleeing, but now? Green really had become a fine young woman.
"???"
Green stared blankly, but then immediately realized what he meant.
Her face flushed red. This damn pervert! But…
Looking at the nearby Pidove, she clung even tighter. As annoying as he was, she couldn't deny—he gave her a strong sense of safety.
"Lucas, where are we headed next?"
Marnie rolled her eyes adorably, seeing him tease Green again, and asked.
"Let's head to Opelucid City first. Reshiram should have enough stamina left."
Lucas thought for a moment. It was close to their next destination, and not too far from their current location.
"Thanks, Reshiram. Let's fly that way."
He took out his phone, checked the direction, and pointed.
"Roooo~"
With a majestic cry, Reshiram adjusted its flight and gracefully soared toward Opelucid City.
Unlike their earlier escape, now that danger had passed, Reshiram once again exuded its elegant and noble aura—making for a far more pleasant ride.
"As a mount, Reshiram is actually pretty great."
Feeling the gentle breeze on his face, Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
He was already thinking—maybe Reshiram should just become his regular mode of transportation.
This battle with Kyurem had made one thing clear: while Reshiram was unimaginably powerful by normal standards, compared to the top-tier legendary's, it wasn't much stronger than Zekrom.
At best, it was more on support.
But Reshiram's appearance? Cool, sleek, and absolutely made for showing off.
Eternatus was too big and its skeletal dragon form didn't match popular aesthetics.
Same with Kyurem—too ferocious, too brutal, not suitable.
Yes, Lucas hadn't caught Kyurem yet, but he had already mentally marked it as his.
One day, with enough power, he would come back, defeat it, and make it his!
As for Salamence or Dragonair? Cool, but not stylish enough.
Only Reshiram was worthy of being his mount.
If Lance could have an Aerodactyl, then he, Lucas, must have something ten times cooler!
A dragon that can fight, fly, and impress with its majestic looks? He was sold.
"Reshiram, I'll be counting on you from now on!"
He smiled warmly at the dragon.
Reshiram: "???"
What do you mean… counting on me?
Reshiram's beautiful dragon eyes showed confusion. It had no idea what kind of "position" it was about to be assigned.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield…
BOOM!
The massive Black Dragon was smashed into a mountainside, the peak collapsing in a deafening crash.
Dust shot skyward.
Zekrom lay on the ground in agony, its body now covered in a thin layer of frost.
The once-green land had been coated in white. The earth wore a silver shroud, the result of Kyurem's extreme cold and blizzard-level fury.
(End of Chapter)